Sarawak to produce 80pc of its rice needs within five years, says premier

GEDONG, Oct 6 — Sarawak is expected to produce almost 80 per cent of its rice requirement in three to five years, when four areas identified as suitable for rice cultivation are fully developed, Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said today.

He said these areas, with a combined hectares of over 10,000, will be planted with hybrid rice varieties that can be harvested three times a year.

He said a pilot project in Lubok Punggor, near here, has proven to be successful, adding that the planting started in May this year and it is almost ready for harvest.

He said the hybrid variety can produce between eight and 10 metric tonnes per hectare per harvest as against three to five metric tonnes per hectare per harvest for the ordinary rice variety.

“Apart from Lubok Punggor, we have also areas in Tanjung Bijat in Sri Aman Division, Spaoh in Betong Division and Tanjung Pohon in Lundu as the paddy growing areas,” the premier told reporters after visiting the pilot project in Lubok Punggor, which was undertaken by Global Farm Biotech Sdn Bhd.

He said these areas have been fully developed, Sarawak can produce up to 200,000 tonnes of padi based on three harvests per year.

“These 200,000 metric tonnes roughly make up 60 per cent of the local rice supply for Sarawak’s own needs within the next three to five years while the remaining 40 per cent will be imported,” he said.

He said based on the 2022 statistics from Bernas, Sarawak imported 145,468 metric tonnes of rice while the local production was about 83,000 metric tonnes.

He said Sarawak residents consumed about 250,000 metric tonnes last year.

“This means that if we have 10,000 hectares of new hybrid paddy, producing 200,000 tonnes of paddy a year, plus existing production of local rice, we can reach the target to be self-sufficient by almost 80 per cent,” he said.

“With more than 10,000 hectares, we can even export rice to peninsular or contribute to National Food Security, and acts as a rice bowl, not only for Sarawak but also for the whole Malaysia,” he said.

He said presently Sarawak produces about 34 per cent of its own rice and 66 per cent have to be imported, mainly from Vietnam and India.

He said the state government will seek assistance from the federal government for the high cost of constructing the drainage and irrigation systems in the four areas.

“We want the federal government to help us,” he said.

Among those accompanying the premier to visit the pilot project in Lubok Punggor were Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Seri Stephen Rundie and Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Abu Bakar Marzuki.